Runway for annealing glass.



No. 805,070. PATENTED NOV. 21, 1905. H. K. HITCHCOCK.

RUNWAY FOR ANNEALING GLASS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 17. 1905.

' 5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

CO (Q AttyS No. 805,070. PATENTED NOV. 21, 1905.

H. K. HITCHCOCK.

RUNWAY FOR ANNEALING GLASS..

APPLICATION FILED JULY I7. 1905.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

y JN Y yaw. my n No. 805,070. PATENTED NOV. 2l, 1905.

H. K. HITCHCDGK. RUNWAY FOR ANNEALING GLASS.

APPLICATION' FILED JULY 17. 1905.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

/l/ 7 17 15 72 10 74. 17 1o 7 /J f f i WlTNESSES: INVENTOR J7 m mrs No. 805,070. PATENTED NOV. 2l, 1905. H. K. HITGHCGGK.

RUNWAY FOR ANNEALING GLASS.

A IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 17.1905.

No. 805,070. PATENTED NOV. 21, 1905.

H. K. HITCHCOCK.

RUNWAY -FOR ANNEALING GLA-SS. APPLlcATIoN rum JULY 1'1. 1905.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RUNWAY FOR ANNEALING GLASS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21, 1905.

Application led July 17, 1905. Serial No, 270,087.

To all whom t may concer/1,:

Be itknown that I, HALBERT IQHIToHeoox, a citizen oi' the United States, residing at Tarentum, in the county of Allegheny and State oi' Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered certain new and useful Improvements in Run-- ways forAnnealing Glass, of which improvements the following is a specification.

The invention described herein relates to certain improvements in runways in which a completion of the annealing operation of glass sheets is eiected.

Heretofore it has been customary to so construct the inclosing walls of the tunnel of the runway as to have the same capacity for dissipatingheat throughout its length, and hence radiation and consequent cooling would be too rapid at some points and too slow at other points.

It is an object of the present invention to so construct the tunnel that the radiation from different hpoints will have a rate approximately inversely proportional to the temperature of the sheet at that poin t-z'. e. that the capacity of the runway to cool shall increase as the sheet cools down.

It is a further object of the invention to provide Jfor the automatic shifting of the sheets along the runway and their delivery onto a transfer-table or othersuitable support.

The invention is hereinafter more fully described and'claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved runway. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional elevations of the front and rear portions, respectively, of the runway. Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are transverse sections on planes indicated, respectively, by the lines V V, VI VI, and VII VII, Fig. 2. Fig. 8 is a plan view, on an enlarged scale, of the rear portion of the shifting mechanism, the upper portion of the tunnel being removed.` Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the rear portion ofthe runway. Figs. 10, 11, 12, and 13 are detail views, on an enlarged scale, o1 portions of the sheet-shifting mech anism.

In the practice of my invention the front end of the runway is located adjacent to and prei"- erably forms the last of aseries of annealingkilns, asindicated in Fig. 1, so that asheet of glass may be pushed from the oven onto the hearth 1 of the runway, said hearth preferably being on a level with the surface of the hearth of the oven. The arch or top of the runway not only adjacent to the oven, but also throughout the entire extent of the tunnel portion of the runway, and the Hoor or bottom of the tunnel in the rear of the hearth are preferably formed of sheet metal, as shown. The tunnel portion is secured at one endl to the hearth and is supported at intervals by rollers mounted on suitable piers.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 5, provision is made for the heating of the hearth and the walls of the tunnel adjacent to the hearth to a temperature approximately equal to the temperature of the sheet as it is delivered from the last of the ovens. In the construction shown the heating means consists of gas-burners 2, delivering into combustion-chambers 3, and an air-supply pipe 4E, preferably connected to a pipe 5, leading from a source of air under pressure. The combustion-chamber 3 is connected to a vertical flue 6, extending up to the front end of the hearth or tunnel covering the hearth, and the blast-pipe 5 is also connected to this lue, so that the temperature of the products of combustion flowing up through the flue may be accurately regulated and to permit of the maintenance in the tunnel of a pressure above atmospheric pressure, thereby preventing of the entrance of cold air into the tunnel.

Along the sides of the tunnel from the rear end of the hearth I provide chambers 7, which are connected with combustion-chambers 3, as shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 5, so that hot air, zc., may be delivered into these side chambers, from which they escape through stacks 9 at or near the rear end of the tunnel. The top or arch of the tunnel, the outer walls oi'v the ues or passages 7, and also the bottom of the tunnel from the rear end of the hearth are covered with non-conducting material, the thickness of such covering progressively diminishing from the frontend of the tunnel to the rear end thereof, as clearly shown in Figs. 5, 6, y and 7. As the amount of heat radiated from the surfaces of the tunnel will be proportional to the thickness of the walls of the latter, it will be readily understood that the rate Vot' radiation from the walls of thel tunnel will increase from the front to the rear end, so that as the sheets become cooler' in moving along the tunnel they will be more slowly cooled.

In order to move the sheets along the tunnel, I provide two series of rails 10 and 11,

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IIO

one series, as 10, extending from the rear end of the hearth throughout the entire length of the runway, and the other set of rails having a length equal to or slightly greater than the length of the runway. The rails 10 are supported upon a series of arms 12, secured to a series of rocking'bars 13, arranged transverse of the tunnel and at suitable points along its length, and the rails 11 are supported upon a like series of arms 14, projecting in the opposite direction from the arms 12 from the rocking bars 13. These rocking bars 13 have a rocking support upon bearings 1 5, secured to the tunnel along the sides, as shown in Figs. 3, 4, 6, 12, and 13.

As shown in Figs. 12 and 13, the rocking bars are preferably formed of T-irons having the arms 12 and 14 secured to the edge of the web and the ends of the web resting in V- shaped notches in the bearings 15. An arm 16 is secured to each of the rocking bars and has its lower end pivotally connected to a sleeve 17, secured to the rod 18. This rod is connected to or forms the piston-rod of a cylinder 19, so that by the admission of fluidpressure to opposite ends of the cylinder the arms and rocking bars may be rocked back and forth. By the movement of the rody 18 to the right in Fig. 12 the rails 10 will be raised and the rails 11 correspondingly lowered, so that a sheet resting 'upon the rails 11 at the beginning of the rocking movement will be transferred to the rails 10. The rails 11 are `supported by the arms 14 in such manner as to be capable of being shifted longitudinally, a preferred construction to that end being shown in Figs. 11, 12, and 13. As therein shown, rollers 2O have their journals mounted upon tracks 21, formed on the upper edges of the arms 14. These rollers are preferably grooved for the reception of a portion of the rails 11, which are directly,

supported by the rollers. It will be readily understood that when in such a construction the arms 14 are shifted from a horizontal position the tracks 21 will form an inclined path down which the rollers tend to move.`

When the rod 18 is shifted to the right in Fig. 12, as heretofore stated, arms 14 will have a downward inclination from their axes of oscillation, so that the rollers will tend to move to the left, carrying with them the rails 11.

As shown in Figs-1, 2, and 3, the rails 11 extend across the hearth, which is grooved to permit of the lowering of these rails below the surface of the hearth. The front ends of the rails 11 are connected to a cross-head 22 and the rear ends to a cross-head 23. These cross-heads are connected by wire ropes 24 and 25, passing around guide-pulleys at each end of the runway, to the piston-rod 26 of the fluid-'pressure cylinder 27, so that by admitting Huid-pressure into the ends alternately of the cylinder these rails will be pulled back and forth through the tunnel. mechanism is so constructed that the backand-forth. movement of rails 11 is equal to and preferably slightly greater than the longest sheet to be treated in the runway.

As shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the cross-head 23, to which the bars 11 near their rear ends are secured, is supported by rails 28. The ends of these rails are pivotally connected one to crank-arms 29, secured to the last rocking bar, and the other to the arm 14 of a preceding rocking bar of the runway, so that /this cross-head can be raised and lowered simultaneous with the arms 14, supporting the middle portions of the rails 11. It is preferred that this cross-head should be provided with male wheels to facilitate its movement along the supporting-rail 28.

In order to render the operation of the shifting mechanism'automatic, the valve controlling the flow of fluid-pressure to the cylinder 19, whereby the rocking bars are oscillated, is connected to arms or levers 30 and 31, projecting up into thepath of movement an extension of one of the ends thereof, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. As this cross-head reaches the rear limit of its movement it will strike the arm 31, thereby shifting the valve mechanism 32, so as to admit fluid-pressure to one end of the cylinder 19, and thereby rock the rocking bars in such manner as to lower the rails 11 and raise the' rails 10, whereby the sheets of glass are transferred to the rails 10. As this rocking movement is completed the Valve 33, controlling the How of Huid-pressure to the cylinder 27, is shifted so that the rails 11, being below and out of contact with the sheets of glass, will be pulled toward the front end of the runway. As the cross-head 23 reaches the forward limit of its movement it will strike the lever 30, again shift the valve mechanism 32, so that by the admission of the Huid-pressure to the cylinder 19 the rocking bars will be rocked in the opposite direction, thereby lowering the rails 10 and raising the rails 11, thus transferring not only the sheets resting on the rails 10, but also the sheet resting on the hearth 1 to the rails 11. On the completion of this transfer the valve 33, controlling the flow of fluidpressure to the cylinder.27, is shifted so that the rails 11 will be pulled toward the rear of the runway, carrying with them the sheets resting thereon. By this step-by-step movement the sheets are gradually transferred from the hearth to a table or other support 35 at the rear of the runway.

lt is characteristic of my improvement that the tunnel is held or anchored at one end and is so supported at points along its length that expansion and contraction under variations of temperature will not have any effect on the tunnel. As the arms whereby the rails 10 and 11 are raised and lowered are secured to of a portion of the cross-head 23, preferably' The shifting IOO IIO

' common rocking bars, the rails will be held in proper relation to each other and afford a uniform support for the glass.

It will be observed that the longitudinallymovable rails 11 are always under tension and there will be no liability of their being buckled.

It is a characteristic of my improvement that the inner walls of the tunnel are formed of non-absorbent material-z'. e., metal-so that moisture in the heating medium will not be taken up, requiring its subsequent expulsion, as is the case where the tunnel is formed of brick, as has heretofore been customary.

The heating of the hearth and the tunnel is effected by the heat and products of combustion from the chambers 3, the temperature being controlled by the admission of air from the blast-pipe 5. The best effects are attained by producing a perfect combustion, and consequently a higher temperature, in the chambers 3 than is required in heating the hearth and tunnel and then reducing the temperature of the gases in the flues 6 by cold air. The employment of air under pressure for cooling also permits of the maintenance of pressure higher than atmospheric pressure in the tunnel and causes a further How of the heating medium through the tunnel. By regulating the initial temperature of the gases and their velocity through the tunnel a uniformlydecreasing temperature will be maintained throughout its entire length. This regulation can be effected by means of suitable Valves in the gas and air supply pipes.

The tunnel is provided with removable sections 38 at intervals along its length, preferably adjacent to the rocking bars, so as to permit access for repairs, &c. It is also preferred that valves 36 and 37 should be arranged in the fluid-pressure supply at the ends of the runway or at other suitable points, so that the operation of the shifting mechanism maybe quickly stopped when necessary.

I claim herein as my inventioni l. A runway for annealing glass having in combination a hearth, a tunnel connected to the hearth and movably supported at suitable intervals along its length and means for moving articles along the tunnel.

2. A runway for annealing glass having in combination a hearth, a tunnel extending from the hearth, the whole or practically the whole outer surfaces of said parts being exposed to permit free radiation of heat and means for moving articles from the hearth throughv the tunnel.

3. A runway for annealing glass having in combination a hearth. a tunnel extending from the hearth, means for maintaining a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure in the tunnel and means for moving articles from the hearth through the tunnel.

4. A runway for annealing glass having in combination a hearth, a tunnel extending from the hearth, the walls of said parts gradually diminishing in thickness from the hearth to the outer end of the tunnel and means for moving articles from the hearth through the tunnel.

5. A runway for annealing glass having in combination a hearth, a tunnel extending from the hearth, chambers extending along the sides of the tunnel, means for maintaining said chambers at a temperature higher than that in the tunnel and means for moving articlesfrom the hearth through the tunnel.

6. A runway for annealing glass having in combination a hearth, a tunnel extending from the hearth, a series of rocking bars arranged along the ltunnel and having knife-edge bearings on the tunnel, two series of arms carried by thebars, a series of rails supported by one of the series of arms, a second series of rails carried by the other arms, a longitudinally-movable rod connected to the rocking arms and a fluid-pressure cylinder connected to said rod.

7. A runway for annealing glass having in combination a hearth, a tunnel extending from the hearth, a series of rocking bars arranged along the tunnel and provided with two oppositely-projecting arms, a series of rails supported by one series of arms, a second series 0f rails supported by the other series 0f arms, rollers interposed between the second series of rails and their supporting-arms said'arms forming inclined tracks when shifted to facilitate the shifting of the rails, and means for shifting the rocking bars.

8. A runway for annealing glass having in combination a hearth, a tunnel extending from the hearth and movably supported at suitable points along its length, and automatic means for moving articles step by step from the hearth through the tunnel.

9. A runway for annealing glass having in combination a hearth, a tunnel extending from the hearth, two series of rails, means for alternately raising and lowering said series of rails, and means for pulling said rails alternately in opposite directions thereby maintaining said rails under tension during their movements.

10. A runway for annealing glass having in combination a hearth, atunnel extending from the hearth, two series of rails, means for alternately raising and lowering said series of rails, means for shifting one of said series of rails longitudinally when in raised and lowered positions, the raisingand loweringmechanism being controlled by the shifting means and the latter controllingthe raising and lowering mechanism.

11. A runway for cooling glass having in combination a hearth, a tunnel extending from the hearth, two series'of rails, means for alternately raising and lowering said series of rails, means for maintaining one series of rails under tension and means for shifting said rails' longitudinally. 4

12. The combination of a tunnel, a means IOO for moving articles through the tunnel and a means for maintaining the side Walls of the tunnel at a temperature higher than the top and bottom but gradually reduced toward the rear end.

13. The combination of a tunnel, a means for moving sheets of glass through the tunnel, a means of cooling the top and bottom of said sheets and a means for restricting the cooling of the edges of said sheets progressively toward the rear end.

14. The combination of a tunnel having a progressively reduced heat insulating capacity from its hot end to the cold end and a means Jfor moving sheets of glass through the same.

15. The combination of a tunnel having a my hand.

HALBERT K. HITCHCOCK.

Witnesses:

CHARLES BARNETT, FRANoIs VERNAN. 

